Nigerian troops arrest foreign nationals linked to insecurity, says presidential aide

Nigerian troops have apprehended foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the country's ongoing security challenges, according to Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications. Bwala confirmed the arrests during a panel discussion on The Link Up Podcast.

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Our soldiers have arrested foreign nationals in the middle of the country.

He suggested that interference by foreign governments in Nigeria's internal affairs is often motivated by national security and economic interests, particularly concerning the nation's oil resources. Bwala recalled instances where demonstrations involving Russian flags appeared shortly after specific policy decisions by the Nigerian Federal Government, implying a connection.

"Our soldiers have arrested foreign nationals in the middle of the country," Bwala stated. He explained that the military has deliberately withheld the nationalities of those arrested to safeguard ongoing diplomatic engagements. "For security reasons, the military refused to disclose their nationality, but the government of Nigeria related with those nationalities and countries," he added.

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For security reasons, the military refused to disclose their nationality, but the government of Nigeria related with those nationalities and countries.

Bwala indicated that Nigeria might engage in prisoner exchanges, noting, "If you catch somebody like that, you keep them until that country has something also in it, so you do prisoner exchange." He also mentioned that friendlier nations have been asked to take corrective measures rather than face public disclosure, a common practice given that countries rarely acknowledge intelligence operations publicly.

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If you catch somebody like that, you keep them until that country has something also in it, so you do prisoner exchange.

Addressing claims about the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's alleged involvement in funding terrorism in Nigeria, Bwala stated he could not confirm the assertion. However, he referenced a U.S. congressional hearing where a member questioned a CIA director on the matter. Bwala also discussed the spread of Boko Haram and ISWAP activities from the Northeast to the Northwest and their push towards the North-Central region, emphasizing the government's efforts to contain this expansion.

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I’m not saying he’s [Scott Perry] right or he’s wrong, but an event like that has occurred, and as a country we cannot hear that and say you are a liar.